Jack



June-l6, 1931. J. H. KOHLER 1,810,657

JACK 7 Filed May 23, 1928 INVENTOR.

2.4;; ATTORNEYS.

' JOHN H. KOI-ILER, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO REES MANUFACTUR- Patented June 16, 1931 UNITED sraras PATENT OFFICE -IN G CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA JACK Application filed May 23,

This invention relates to jacks and more particularly to automobile jacks such as are commonly employed in connection with automobile trucks and the like.

In raising one wheel of an automobile or motor truck off the ground the axle is caused to swing about the point of contact between the opposite wheel and the ground and assume a tilting or inclined position. As a result of this movement, the axle imparts a J lateral or bending strain to the lifting mechanism of the jack, resulting'in such a binding of the jack elements as to render operation thereof stiff and difficult. The movement of the axle being raised, as a result of the elasapplied to a jack, in addition to the lateral strain, and this twisting force is especially noticeable where the lift is of relatively great extent. An object of this invention is to provide a jack of the type set forth capable of lifting an axle to the extreme eflective height of the jack without any binding of the parts. A further object is to provide a lifting jack constructed and arranged to permit free movement of the axle with relation'to the jack during raising and lowering thereof.

A still further object is to provide a jack of the type set forth which will be simple in construction, effective in operation and relatively cheap to manufacture and assemble.

These and other objects which will be apparent to those skilled in this particular art are attained by means of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a lifting jack constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view taken at rightangles to- Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the bottom base member.

Theparticular embodiment of this invention which has been chosen for the purposes of illustration is shown in connection witha telescoping screw jack 5, but it will be apparent that this invention is equally applicable to other types of lifting jacks. The usual operating shaft 6 for screw jacks is provided; The vertically movable lifting 192s. Seria1 No. 279,878Q

member 7 is provided with a support 8 which, in the presentinstant, also constitutes a housing for the operating gear not shown.

Av base member 10 is provided and the lift member support 8 is mounted on the base by means of a universal joint in the form of a ball and socket formed by a substantially hemispherical ball 11 provided on the bottom of the support 8 and seating in a socket 12 centrally formed in the base member. the illustrated construction, the diametrically opposite sides of the'ball 11 the front and back thereofare cut away, as shown at 13, for structural reasons, in view of the fact that tilting movement of the lifting member either forward or back is comparatively slight.

Laterally, however, the parts are designed. Itgo permit extreme tilting of the lifting mem- The two sections of the base'formed by the base proper 10,and lifting member support 8, are heldtogether bytwo diametrically opposite pins 14 formed on the bottom of the support 8 and extending loosely througharcuate slots 15 which are positioned in the tops of upwardly arched portions 16 formed on opposite sides of the base member 10. This arrangement holds the base members together yieldingly so asltopermit the support 8 to rock upon the base 10, thus enabling the lifting member? to 'betilted by the axle, and at the same time provides for limited rotation of the support 8 upon the base 10. asa' result of the'twisting effect of the axle on the lifting members under heavy load and relatively great lift. Obviously,-other ways of absorbing the twisting effect of the raised axlemay be provided. I 1 1 The base member is also provided with oppositely disposed springseats 17 in which fiat upwardlycurved springs 18 are secured, and these flat springs are so formed that their ends areassociatedwitli each of the four corners of the support 8 and bear thereon in such a manner as to normally hold the lifting member in a vertical position, but so as to yield under lateral strains.

What I laim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination ina jack of a base member having a socket therein and slots on each side thereof, a lifting member, a support for said lifting member having a ball and pins adapted to be received in the socket 'and slots respectively on said base member for permitting rocking movement thereon, means for normally maintaining said lifting member vertical, and means loosely connecting said pins in the slots of said base member so as to permit limited rotation of said support on said base member.

2. The combination in a jack of a base member provided with a socket and a plurality of arcuate slots, a lifting member, a support for said lifting member having a ball seated in the socket of said base member and pins extending through said slots, springs for normally maintaining said support in horizontal position and spring means on said pins for loosely securing said support and said base member together to permit rotation of said support on said base member.

3. The combination in a jack of a base member, a lifting member, a support for said lifting member mountedon said base so as to permit tilting of said lifting member rel-' member to permit a limited twisting thereof and spring elements longitudinally disposed along opposite sides of said base member for engaging said supporting means so as to normally hold said lifting member in vertical position.

5. In a jack, the combination of a base member having a socket and a plurality of arcuate slots therein, a lifting member, a support for said lifting member having a ball seated in the socket in said base member, oppositely disposed pins on said support adapted to extend through said slots, means for loosely fastening said pins in said slots to permit tilting and limited rotation of said lifting member, and spring members longitudinally disposed on opposite sides of said base member for'engaging said support for normally holding said lifting member in vertical position.

6. A jack having in combination, a base member having a socket therein, a lifting member, a support for said lifting member having a ball seated in said socket, means for yieldingly maintaining said support and lifting member in vertical relation to said base member, and means for limiting the ing relative rotary movement between said support and base.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st day of May, 1928.

JOHN H. KOHLER. 

